Share
Perfect Match?
Renée Richards: Tennis' First and Only Transgender Pro
Ep. 21
•
As part of our Social Justice Series, we take a deep dive into the life and pro tennis career of Renée Richards, a trans woman who successfully sued the US Open in the 1970s for the right to play on the women's side. We will also discuss current takes on trans athletes in tennis (some better than others!) from several tennis luminaries.
For background, we watched the excellent ESPN documentary "Renée" (part of their "30 for 30" series, available on ESPN+), as well as the better-than-it-needed-to-be 1980s TV biopic "Second Serve", starring Vanessa Redgrave as both the pre and post-transition Renée (available for free on YouTube). We suggest watching either or both if you want to take a deep dive yourself.
As always, follow us on the socials, rate this podcast in your app, and tell your friends!
Send us your hot takes at perfectmatchpodcast@gmail.com
As always tell your friends, rate this podcast in your app, and send us feedback at https://www.perfectmatchpodcast.com/
You can also follow us on Bluesky at @perfectmatchpodcast.com or @shellsteak and YouTube at @PerfectMatchPodcast
More episodes
View all episodes
11. Moving to Monte Carlo
29:21||Season 3, Ep. 11The Clay Season is officially in session now with the symbolic opener, the Monte-Carlo Masters, taking place. Why don't we all live in Monte Carlo, with it's zero percent personal income tax, European adjacency and $6300/sq. ft. real estate? Perhaps because we don't have $6.3 million dollars for a 1000 square foot flat. One day...Today on the pod, we talk about the Joy of Clay, Monte Carlo, why Americans can't seem to win on slow surfaces, and how it relates to Bryan's general lack of patience and attention to detail.Also,Jessie Pegula's win in Charleston over a Ukranian player who hasn't been home in four years and had to do GoFundMe to stay on tour (did Jessie donate anything?)Iga is now being coached by Rafa's former coach (with Rafa giving pointers)Enjoy!
10. Is Dark Woke the New Way to Look at Tennis?
29:53||Season 3, Ep. 10A lively, bad faith debate in which Michele defends what Bryan calls "Woke 1.0" while he posits that so-called "Dark Woke" can be better for one's tennis fandom. Do we need to broaden our tolerance for players' questionable posts and comments in order to enjoy the sport more?It's a weird one! But relevant (maybe)!Also:The WTA Finals is out of Saudi Arabia, mercifullyMeh about the two Sunshine Doubles. What a weird feeling
9. "Fuck You All!": On Meltdowns and Disappointments
28:36||Season 3, Ep. 9This week due to shifting forces in our lives, we home in on the perennial vignette in which one person lashes out at a crowd that stares on in horror. But who among us hasn't wanted to just flip off everyone around them and storm out forever(ish)?Also, Carlos Alcaraz announces on court in Spanish "I'm can't anymore!" to his team. What's going on with him?LIveNation antitrust suit is dropped by the Feds (presumably corruption), but is kept alive by the statesWimbledon expansion appears to be a go, angering local activists (who are perhaps disingenuous?)
8. Indian Wells, Paramount, Monopolies...Good Times!
29:26||Season 3, Ep. 8The Indian Wells tournament is upon us, as is the tenth anniversary of your hosts bumping into one another at the tourament, encountering an implausible series of rom-com meet-cutes, and somehow staying together for all these years. To commemorate, we dive into the ennui surrounding MAGA enthusiast Larry Ellison owning the Tournament and his looming presence over the media landscape in America (but it's also kind of funny!)Also:The Iran war traps players in the U.A.E.Sabalenka's big engagement brouhahaTicketmaster could be broken up? Please please pretty please?
7. Can Professional Tennis Players Ever Organize?
31:44||Season 3, Ep. 7Professional tennis players are some of the least represented athletes in professional sports. From the grueling schedule to the relatively low share of revenue, even down to the type of balls used in tournaments, the players have little to no say in decisions that affect their lives and health immensely. This week, we break down the issue and ponder if there is any reason to hope that things will get better for them.Also:PICKLEBRAWL at a Florida country clubCoco Gauff speaks truth to power once againNo Carne Asada (or any other meat) at the Mexican Open
Should the Women Play Longer Matches in Slams?
33:57|There's long been an argument in tennis against women receiving equal pay that it's because they don't play full Best of Five matches in the Grand Slams. It's a weak and weird argument because outside of the Slams, everyone plays Best of Three, and some of those tournaments *still* don't have equal pay. Regardless, Australian Open CEO Craig Tiley wants to change all this. He's pushing for the women to play those long matches at the AO and beyond. Is it a good idea? Will it happen? Does Bryan have a wholly unworkable alternative? Listen and find out!Also,Brad Gilbert didn't like Bad Bunny's Halftime performance and thought they should have had some "Bay area rock instead"Two new "Heated Rivalry"-style gay tennis romance novels are coming out soonIs Serena coming back to professional tennis for real? (She's coming back for real)
5. Is A Little Bit of Lying Okay?
36:17||Season 3, Ep. 5In which we draw the line between a "lie" and a "lie-lie".We all lie! Whether it's your "colonoscopy appointment" on the day of your sister's "baby shower", or "does a hangover qualify as a 'sick day'?", we all lie at least once in our life. What kinds of lies are okay? Who gets to decide? What does it matter?Also:There were too many cameras at the Australian Open! Enough with all the cameras!Slam trophies for coaches is new and a bit weird and cringe?
4. The Australian Open's Safety Culture Problem
28:25||Season 3, Ep. 4The Aussie Open closes the roof when their bespoke heat index level reaches 5. The AO knows beforehand exactly when this index will reach 5 because we all know this, because we all have a weather app on our phones. Is it antithetical to their "Safety Culture" that they don't close the roof when they know it's going to be too hot? And what is this "Safety Culture" anyway? It's probably not what you think!Also:Juan Carlos Ferrero doesn't need to coach Alcaraz anymore, because he's coaching...a golfer?Defector's Owen Lewis asks American players how they feel about their country right now, and some players start singing "Mary Had a LIttle Lamb" with their fingers in their ears.
3. Adios! Alcaraz' Split With His Coach Seems Permanent
34:18||Season 3, Ep. 3Carlos Alcaraz is playing his first matches on tour without the help of his only coach since childhood, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and we are all wondering how this will go. What we aren't wondering anymore is if Juan Carlos will be coming back. We don't usually talk about who is coaching which player (because it's insider-y and kind of boring), but this coaching relationship is unlike anything we've ever seen in tennis, and we have thoughts.Also:The new "ESPN Unlimited" option/paywall is confusing and more expensive for many of us (but also good for some people?)The Australian Open is getting as crowded as the U.S. Open ☹️Naomi Osaka's crazy umbrella/veil/wedding dress outfitUkrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova calls out pro-Putin players as "dangerous"It's Grand Slam time! Enjoy the AO!